Matt Kenseth wins Sprint Unlimited

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A look at the key moments and what you need to know from NASCAR's season-opening Sprint Unlimited exhibition race.

The winner: Matt Kenseth returned to victory lane in his first race after going winless for the entire season. Unfortunately, this one only half counts since it wasn't a points race.

How it happened: Kenseth got a big push from Kevin Harvick on a restart with four laps to go, then was able to defend his position over Martin Truex Jr. and new Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards.

Postrace: Harvick, who had damage from an earlier wreck, was being pushed through the turn on the last lap by Joey Logano. They traded paint after the checkered flag flew and crew members had to separate them when they climbed from their cars on pit road. Said Logano: ''Kevin being Kevin. New year, same stuff. I was trying to help him." 2014 Cup champion Harvick had a different take, saying you had to use your head in these situations. He alluded that Logano had taken his off and left it on the floorboard of the No. 22 Ford.

No. 99 to No. 19: In his first race with Joe Gibbs Racing after leaving Roush Fenway Racing, Edwards finished third.

First wreck: Kyle Larson moved up the track on lap 22 and made contact with Brad Keselowski, which resulted in a crash that ended Keselowski's night. Asked what he saw in the incident, Keselowski replied, "The wall."

The Big One: A huge crash damaged 14 cars during a time when there were only 24 cars on the track. The incident with 28 laps to go happened when Greg Biffle turned Jamie McMurray at the front of the field and said it was because McMurray's car had been loose. But McMurray countered by saying, "Well it was, when he had my back tires off the ground." Also involved in the wreck: Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Paul Menard, Aric Almirola, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Matt Kenseth.

Unhappy Valentines: Stenhouse spun in front of Austin Dillon with 13 laps to go, and Stenhouse's girlfriend Danica Patrick also got some damage when she ran into Dillon. Stenhouse had already been hit in the earlier big wreck.

Not done wrecking: When Stewart cut up in front of Kyle Busch with six laps to go, it caused the No. 14 car to turn and collect Biffle – who had a hard hit on the inside wall – and Kurt Busch. Gordon also caught part of the incident. The cleanup from the crash brought out the red flag for the second time in the race.​

Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck

PHOTOS: 2015 NASCAR Sprint Unlimited

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

At Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Fla.

Lap length: 2.5 miles (Start position in parentheses)

1. (16) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 75 laps, 118.9 rating, 0 points, $198,475.

2. (10) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 75, 125.6, 0, $84,475.

3. (14) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 75, 73.4, 0, $44,450.

4. (23) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 75, 80.2, 0, $38,450.

5. (25) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 75, 75, 0, $37,450.

6. (3) Joey Logano, Ford, 75, 85.4, 0, $35,450.

7. (11) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 75, 76.4, 0, $34,950.

8. (5) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 75, 48.4, 0, $32,950.

9. (24) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 75, 86.1, 0, $30,950.

10. (15) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 75, 61.3, 0, $29,450.

11. (8) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 75, 85.8, 0, $28,950.

12. (12) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 75, 41.9, 0, $28,450.

13. (22) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, accident, 67, 90.3, 0, $27,950.

14. (7) Greg Biffle, Ford, accident, 67, 55.9, 0, $27,450.

15. (13) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, accident, 67, 65, 0, $26,950.

16. (20) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, accident, 61, 44.2, 0, $26,700.

17. (6) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, accident, 61, 43.6, 0, $26,450.

18. (19) Aric Almirola, Ford, accident, 55, 51.9, 0, $25,950.

19. (9) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, accident, 45, 65.5, 0, $25,450.

20. (18) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, accident, 45, 37.5, 0, $25,200.

21. (1) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, accident, 45, 77.8, 0, $24,950.

22. (17) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, accident, 45, 54.3, 0, $24,710.

23. (2) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, accident, 45, 44.2, 0, $24,450.

24. (21) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, accident, 45, 75.9, 0, $23,950.

25. (4) Brad Keselowski, Ford, accident, 22, 65.1, 0, $23,450.

———

Race Statistics

Average Speed of Race Winner: 135.569 mph.

Time of Race: 1 hour, 22 minutes, 59 seconds.

Margin of Victory: 0.219 seconds.

Caution Flags: 4 for 17 laps.

Lead Changes: 13 among 8 drivers.

Lap Leaders: P.Menard 1-7; B.Keselowski 8-9; M.Kenseth 10; M.Truex Jr. 11-13; M.Kenseth 14; M.Truex Jr. 15-25; K.Harvick 26; D.Earnhardt Jr. 27-39; M.Truex Jr. 40-46; G.Biffle 47; M.Truex Jr. 48-55; M.Kenseth 56-68; C.Edwards 69; M.Kenseth 70-75.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Led, Laps Led): M.Truex Jr., 4 times for 29 laps; M.Kenseth, 4 times for 21 laps; D.Earnhardt Jr., 1 time for 13 laps; P.Menard, 1 time for 7 laps; B.Keselowski, 1 time for 2 laps; C.Edwards, 1 time for 1 lap; K.Harvick, 1 time for 1 lap; G.Biffle, 1 time for 1 lap.